Silverwood's Dairy compiled by Gord Conroy

Silverwood's Dairy . . . delivery to your milk box, a Stratford institution 

Silverwood’s Dairy was a big hit in Stratford after it arrived in 1928. It had been started by Albert Edward Silverwood in nearby London, Ont. Silverwood’s bought Stratford Dairy on Albert in 1928, and then took over the Stillman Creamery premises at 187 Ontario St., next to the Queen’s Hotel. The purchase included the dairy stables on Albert Street.

Silverwood's Dairy delivery men in a photo dates 1948. But is that the correct year? Check the "van" photo below for a clue.  Originally, dairy products were delivered by horse and wagon, and later by van and trucks. Two pictures show the two methods of delivery but both seem to have been taken for archive purposes on the same day. Clue: the movie Sentry is listed on the Vogue Theatre's marquee in both photos. So is the word “cool,” which was great news for those seeking relief from the summer heat courtesy of the theatre's new-fangled air-conditioning system.

*  "It was one of our duties as young boys and girls back then, to beg for rides in the horse-drawn milk and bread rigs. One of the easiest marks, and everyone's all-time favourite guy, was Silverwood's Danny Fooks. He was such a cheerful, friendly guy, and I'm not sure if he ever had a bad day in his life. " Source Brian Wendy Reis . . . FB 

Some may remember the Silverwood motto for its ice cream: Smooth as velvet. Or, how about the catch phrase in this Silverwood's ad that was popular for a long time: “You can whip our cream but you can’t beat our milk.” Many would agree.

Albert Edward Silverwood (1876-1961) did not start his work career in the milk business. In 1903 he joined Silverwood Produce, a company that dealt mainly in poultry. That business made him a wealthy man. He started his dairy company in 1928, but by then he was a dairy magnate. He bought local dairies and owned subsidiaries as far away as Western Canada. By 1928 his company was taking in more than $4 M in sales. His dairy operation was a force in Stratford for more than half a century. Home delivery of milk continued here until the late 1960s.

Part of Silverwood’s success was its willingness to invest early in new products. In 1914 he bought a multi-storey building from the London Cold Storage Co. (a company he would later buy outright). Silverwood used that building as a creamery and soon after invested in ice cream equipment. When his company began to manufacture ice cream, it was one of only two wholesale manufacturers in London. Silverwood supported the financial losses of his ice cream branches with his cream and butter production, just as he had once done for those products with his poultry returns. It paid off.

By 1919, Silverwood had seven dedicated ice cream wagons. They delivered ice cream, but also crushed ice to keep it cold. The First World War years created opportunity for fluid milk production, and Silverwood supplied pasteurized milk to the soldiers at London's Wolseley Barracks in 1916. In 1922, he began his commercial sale of milk, and in 1930 he installed Canada’s first plate-type pasteurizers in his production facilities.

In the 1920s there was a huge increase in inter-city delivery rates. Rather than succumb to the higher overhead, Silverwood bought more facilities in outside markets. He bought out local businesses and reformed them in places such as Hamilton, Caledonia, Chatham, Woodstock, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Peterborough and Regina. He set up businesses in many others, including Stratford. Into the 1940s, Silverwood continued to expand his reach.

Though fluid milk and ice cream became primary money makers, Silverwood remained diversified. In addition to his mainstays, he produced evaporated milk, creamery butter, milk powders, condensed milks, powdered buttermilk, cheddar cheese, and poultry and eggs.

Silverwood’s sold everything you would expect. Milk was the staple and sold in bottles that were delivered to small milk boxes, most of them at the side or rear of houses. Empty bottles were left there for return. Many customers had recurring orders; some required two trips to the door. Payment was commonly "on account" or by cash, or by tickets issued and sold by Silverwood's. In addition to milk, deliveries included cream and butte. Additional products, such as ice cream, popsicles, frozen novelties, and would you believe, ready-to-serve chocolate pudding, were available at the dairy and in stores. (See Feature Article dairies)

At times, drivers had helpers, especially in the summer when employees took holidays. The helpers' pay was minimal, but there was some compensation, often a bottle of chocolate milk and the joyful opportunity to care for the horses: feeding, watering and grooming. There were not many helpers in the winter months. 

Delivery people built friendships with customers and kids and were noted for their kindness and honesty. "Our milkman was Greg and we used to feed his horse carrots or apples. Those were the days. Greg used to just come in and put the milk in the fridge. Never locked our doors.” Linda Winters, If You Grew Up in Stratford . . . FB.

Silverwood's was an important part of everyday life, not just in Stratford. A. E Silverwood made quite an impact as well. Later in life, he established the A. E. Silverwood Foundation (1948). He was a great supporter of racial equality in Ontario as well as a benefactor to Western University’s business and music programs. Sources: Photos: Vince Gratton; If You Grew up in Stratford . . . FB; Biography of Silverwood and History of the Dairy; Vernon's City of Stratford directories.

A memory. "My husband's grandfather, W. J. Atchison used to store his horses in the Silverwood's barns. He used to deliver merchandise to various businesses with his wagons. He also would help clear Ontario Street of snow in the winter. They would load the snow onto wagons, then drive the horses and loaded wagons to the Avon River, and dump the snow into the river. " Source: Maggie Muggins on If You Grew Up In Stratford . . . FB.